Born at Islet-sur-Mer, Quebec, on June 28, 1926, from a cultured and Christian family, Sister Marguerite Jean feels attracted to something more than what her environment proposes her. She therefore enters the community of Bon-Pasteur in Quebec City when she turns 18.
Once her formation to religious life is completed, she is offered a job that she accepts, to help young women living in difficult situations. This experience opens up for her a career as social worker that she prepares by studying Social Sciences at the University of Laval, in Quebec City. She then becomes the Director of the Maison Sainte-Madeleine, where she helps the teenage girls who have a hard time finding a meaning to their life.
The year 1967 is a turning point in Sister Marguerite’s life. Following up with what Vatican II decreed on Religious Life in Perfectae Caritatis, the General Chapter of her Congregation needs to edit a new Rule of life. They decide to ask Sister Marguerite to study Canon Law for this purpose. Sister Marguerite obtains a Master degree and a Doctorate in Canon Law from the University of Saint-Paul in Ottawa.
In 1971, as she is writing her thesis, she is given the responsibility of the newly professed sisters at the Motherhouse, in Quebec City. In 1973, the General Chapter appoints her General Secretary. Sister Marguerite is then able to make use of her studies in Canon Law by collaborating actively in editing the texts of the Constitutions and Rules of her Congregation.
After this, she is asked to work at the introduction of the cause of canonisation of their foundress, Marie-Josepthe Fitzbach, by writing the Positio. She accomplishes her work continuing to be present to her community and always faithful to her life of prayer.
Marguerite was a loving sister, interesting, fun and easy to live with. She also presented to the community a publication, Le défi de l’épreuve (The challenge of trials), that is an extract of the Positio and talks about the virtues of their foundress. This book was very inspiring for the sisters and brought new hope to them as they prepared for the Jubilee of the year 2000. It was the last gift she left the sisters before dying, on January 24, 1998.
